Optical system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an optical system for illuminating and viewing a target in which an illumination element and a receiving means are disposed behind a single optical window, and which obtains data essentially free of backscatter and stray light. The optical window of the optical system is configured such that it defines a shape having at least one focal curve, i.e., an ellipsoid shaped dome. The illumination element and the receiving means are geometrically positioned on the focal curve plane or in proximity of the focal curve plane, such that, when illuminating, rays from the illumination elements, that are internally reflected from the optical window, will not be incident on the receiving means.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/879,276filed Jun. 30, 2004, entitled, “AN OPTICAL SYSTEM”, now U.S. Pat. No.6,934,093, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/009,837, filed Aug. 22, 2002, entitled, “AN OPTICAL SYSTEM”, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,836,377, which is a national phase application of PCTApplication no. PCT/IL00/00349, filed 15 Jun. 2000, which claims benefitfrom Israeli Patent Application no. IL 130486, filed 15 Jun. 1999, allof which being incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical system for illuminating andviewing a target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An optical system for illuminating and viewing a target, which comprisesa target, a source of illumination of the target and means for receivingthe light remitted from the target, can be defined by an illuminationaxis and optical axis that converge at the target.

Such an optical system may be as simple as an operator of anillumination source viewing a target, wherein the operator embodies themeans for receiving the light remitted from the target. An example ofsuch an optical system is an operator of a vehicle, that is inside thevehicle and is looking out at an illuminated target such as a road ortunnel walls.

More complex optical systems include automated processors as means forreceiving the light remitted from a viewed target. Examples of suchoptical systems can be found in diagnostic apparatuses such as endoscopedevices. The endoscopes described in the art comprise an image pickupelement and an illuminating element for illuminating an examined target.

For these optical systems it is advantageous to have the illuminatingelement and receiving means contained within a single compartment,namely behind a single optical window.

In a vehicle carrying an operator, the illuminating elements are usuallysituated outside the vehicle, thereby requiring the operator to leavethe vehicle for repairs or the like. In vehicles such as submarines ortrains travelling in a dark tunnel, this may be a perilous task.

In diagnostic apparatuses, especially those meant to be inserted intobody orifices, having a single optical window is advisable for hygienicand practical considerations.

A frequent problem encountered in having the illumination element andmeans for receiving remitted light contained behind a single opticalwindow is the “noise” (backscatter and stray light) produced by lightremitted from the optical window itself, which is received by thereceiving means.

Presently used techniques for reducing noise include utilizing lightguiding means, or separating the illumination element from the receivingmeans.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,014 (Miyano et al.) describes anendoscope having an illumination window and a viewing window having adetachable protective covering and a transparent material for purgingair from the space between the front end and the detachable covering,for lowering loss in illumination light quantity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical system for illuminating andviewing a target in which an illumination element and a receiving meansare disposed behind a single optical window, and which obtains dataessentially free of backscatter and stray light.

The optical system according to the present invention comprises at leastone illumination element and at least one receiving means, both disposedbehind a single optical window having a plurality of reflectingsurfaces.

The optical window is configured such that it defines a shape having atleast one focal curve.

At least one illumination element and at least one receiving means aregeometrically positioned on the focal curve plane or in proximity of thefocal curve plane, such that, when illuminating, rays from theillumination elements, that are internally reflected from the opticalwindow surfaces, will not be incident on the receiving means.

It will be appreciated that the term “receiving means” relates to anymeans suitable for receiving, processing or further transmittingillumination rays remitted from a target or data derived from theserays.

In an embodiment of the invention the optical window is an ellipsoidshaped dome. A plurality of illumination elements are positioned on theellipsoid focal curve and a receiving means is positioned on the axis ofsymmetry of the ellipsoid at an equal distance from the illuminationelements.

The components of the system, thus positioned, ensure that whenilluminating, all the light internally reflected from the optical windowsurfaces is received at points on the focal curve and is not incident onthe receiving means.

The present invention further provides a diagnostic instrumentcomprising an optical system according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figuresin which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic two and three dimensional illustrations,respectively, of an optical system according to the present invention;and

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of two embodimentscomprising the optical system of the present invention; a diagnosticdevice and a vehicle carrying receiving means, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical system based ongeometrically positioning both illumination elements and means forreceiving light behind a single optical window, such that internallyreflected light from the optical window will not be incident on thereceiving means.

The optical window, which is made of any suitable glass or plastic, canbe viewed as being assembled from infinitesimal level surfaces, eachlevel surface internally reflecting an illumination ray incident on itat a reflection angle equal to the angle of incidence. The levelsurfaces are angled to each other such that reflected illumination raysare always converged at a single known point.

This assembly can result in a shape having focal points (for example, anellipse) and an optical window thus assembled would have the opticalproperty that light rays emitted from one focal point, which areinternally reflected, will be propagated to the second focal point. In athree dimensional shape (such as an ellipsoid) light rays emitted from apoint on a focal curve, which are internally reflected, will bepropagated to another point on the focal curve.

For example, in the field of arc lamp systems this property is used tocollect energy efficiently. For example in Model A-1010 and A-1010B lamphousings provided by Photon Technology International of New Jersey, USA,an arc source is located at a foci of an ellipsoid reflector and theradiation is reflected to another foci. Energy is collected efficientlysince the light is brought to a focus by reflection rather than byrefraction (through a lens) such that there is no loss due to absorptionor lens surface back reflection.

In the optical system of the present invention the illumination elementsare positioned on focal points and the receiving means' position doesnot coincide with the focal points, thus ensuring that internallyreflected light is propagated to focal points and not received by thereceiving means.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A which is a schematic two dimensionalpresentation of an optical system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a two dimensional illustration of an optical system generallyreferenced 10. The optical system 10 comprises an illumination element11 and receiving means 13, both disposed behind an optical window 14,for viewing target 15. Optical window 14 has a surface configured suchthat a shape defined by it and by broken line A has an axis of symmetryB and two focal points 19 and 12. Illumination element 11 is positionedon focal point 19 and receiving means 13 is positioned on the axis ofsymmetry B not coinciding with either focal point 19 or 12.

The course of light rays emitted from illumination element 11 will befollowed as an example of the behavior of illumination rays in theoptical system of the invention. Light 16 is emitted from illuminationelement 11 (which element's position coincides with focal point 19) forilluminating target 15. A certain percent of the light (represented byray 17) is internally reflected from the optical window 14 surfaces 14′and 14″ and is propagated to the second focal point 12. A percent of thelight 16 (represented by ray 18) is incident on target 15, is reflectedfrom target 15 and received by receiving means 13.

Thus, internally reflected light rays (such as ray 17) are propagated toareas outside the receiving means 13 area.

Receiving means 13 is also unexposed to direct illumination fromillumination element 11. Illumination element 11 may illuminate light 16in a circular band that is tangent to line B. In this case, if receivingmeans 13 is positioned on line B it will not receive any directillumination rays from illumination element 11. Alternatively, receivingelement 13 can be concealed in a niche 13′ to avoid receiving directillumination rays from illumination element 11.

Thus, geometric positioning of the components of the system ensures thatno backscatter, such as ray 17, and no direct light, only incidentlight, such as ray 18, is received by receiving means 13.

In actuality, the optical window 14 is a three dimensional shape. Athree dimensional representation of the optical system 10 of FIG. 1A, isshown in FIG. 1B.

In the optical system 10 shown in FIG. 1B plane B, formed along line Bfrom FIG. 1A, is shown. Axis C is perpendicular to plane B. The shape onplane B which is defined by optical window 14, encompasses focal curveD.

A plurality of illumination elements, such as 11 and 11′, may bepositioned on focal curve D to enable a uniform spatial illumination,though it should be appreciated that any number of illuminating elementscan be used according to specific requirements of the system.

Receiving means 13 is positioned at a point which is on, or in thevicinity of, axis C, essentially at an equal distance from bothilluminating elements 11 and 11′, and on, or in the vicinity of plane B,such that it receives incident light remitted from target 15. All thelight radiated from illuminating elements 11 and 11′ that is internallyreflected from the optical window surfaces is received at points onfocal curve D and is not incident on receiving means 13.

Thus data obtained by receiving means 13 is essentially free ofbackscatter and stray light.

Two of the possible applications for the optical system of the presentinvention are provided as two different embodiments, illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 2A illustrates a swallowable capsule which includes a) a camerasystem, b) an optical system for imaging an area of interest onto thecamera system and c) a transmitter which transmits the video output ofthe camera system. Such a swallowable capsule is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,604,531, assigned to the common assignees of the presentapplication, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The swallowablecapsule can pass through the entire digestive tract and thus, operatesas an autonomous video endoscope.

The capsule, generally referenced 20 is shaped as an ellipsoid. Thecapsule 20 comprises a housing unit 21 and a viewing unit 23, forviewing a target point 29 on the digestive tract wall. The viewing unit23 comprises an optical system according to the invention.

The optical system comprises a protective optical window 24, preferablymade of isoplast, two illumination elements 25 and 27 and an imagingdevice 28. Illumination elements 25 and 27 are positioned on a focalplane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the ellipsoid defined bythe body of the capsule 20. The imaging device 28, such as a camera, ispositioned on the axis of symmetry of the capsule 20.

Light rays emitted from illumination elements 25 and 27, that reach atarget point 29 on the digestive tract wall are reflected to imagingdevice 28, whereas light rays internally reflected from protectiveoptical window 24 are propagated to points on the focal curve and not toimaging device 28.

It will be appreciated that protective optical window 24, being a singleand complete unit, is easily disposable, and can be smoothly replacedbetween different passes through the digestive tract. This fact, whichis not affordable by endoscopes described in the art, contributes to thesterile and facile use of a diagnostic device comprising the opticalsystem of the invention.

Thus, the present invention provides a simply assembled diagnosticdevice which can obtain data, essentially free of noise such asbackscatter and stray light.

FIG. 2B illustrates a vehicle, such as a submarine, generally referenced30. Submarine 30 is shaped such that its eccentricity is equal to orlarger than zero and smaller than 1.

The submarine 30 comprises a propulsion unit 31 and a viewing cell 33,encased by window 34, in which an operator or a monitoring device 38 arepositioned on the axis of symmetry of the shape of submarine 30. Atarget of interest 39, in the deep waters, is being viewed. The targetof interest 39 is illuminated by illumination elements 35 and 37 thatare positioned on a focal plane of the shape defined by the body of thesubmarine 30, such that light rays internally reflected from window 34do not blind the operator and/or are not received by monitoring device38.

1. A swallowable capsule for imaging the digestive tract, the capsule comprising: a dome-shaped protective optical window comprising an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface being concave; a plurality of illumination elements; a receiving means for receiving light rays reflected from the digestive tract wall wherein the capsule images along a longitudinal axis of the capsule; wherein the receiving means and all of the illumination elements are positioned behind the dome-shaped protective optical window such that the digestive tract is illuminated through the dome-shaped optical window and wherein the receiving means is at an essentially equal distance from each of the illumination elements.
 2. The capsule as in claim 1 wherein the receiving means comprises a camera system.
 3. The capsule as in claim 1 comprising a transmitter for transmitting output of the camera system.
 4. A swallowable capsule for imaging the digestive tract, the capsule comprising: a dome-shaped protective optical window defining a shape having an axis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry being located along a longitudinal axis of the capsule, the window comprising an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface being concave; a plurality of illumination elements; a receiving means for receiving light rays reflected from the digestive tract wall; wherein the receiving means is positioned on the axis of symmetry and wherein the receiving means and all of the Illumination elements are positioned behind the dome-shaped protective optical window such that the digestive tract is illuminated through the dome-shaped optical window and wherein the capsule images along the longitudinal axis of the capsule.
 5. The capsule of claim 4 wherein the plurality of illumination elements are positioned on a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.
 6. A swallowable capsule for imaging the digestive tract, the capsule comprising: a dome-shaped protective optical window comprising an outside surface and an inside suite; the inside surface being concave, a plurality of illumination elements, a receiving means for receiving light rays reflected from the digestive tract wall; wherein all of the illumination elements are positioned behind a single optical window so as to enable uniform spatial illumination of the gastrointestinal tract wall, such that the digestive tract is illuminated through the dome-shaped optical window, and wherein the capsule images along a longitudinal axis of the capsule.
 7. The capsule of claim 6, wherein the illumination elements are positioned on a plane.
 8. The capsule of claim 7, wherein the plane is perpendicular to an axis of symmetry of the capsule.
 9. The capsule of one of claims 6, wherein the protective optical window is made of plastic. 